Vice Adm. Yvette Davids became the 65th superintendent and first woman to fill that role for the United States Naval Academy Thursday at a change of command ceremony at Memorial Hall.
Davids was first nominated to be the new superintendent of the service academy in April. She replaces acting Superintendent Rear Adm. Fred Kacher who took over in an interim role following the retirement of Vice Adm. Sean Buck. Buck’s four-year term ended this summer.
In her address to more than 350 attendees, she recalled the class of 1980, the first at the academy to allow women.
“They were the trailblazers that sailed over benchmarked waters and set a path for women in the Naval Academy to follow,” said Davids, a 1989 graduate. “I’m grateful for their courage, knowledge and support throughout my service.”
Davids’ appointment and that of more than 300 other high-ranking military officials, was held up for nearly eight months in Congress by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, of Alabama. Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach, said he blocked the appointments to protest a Pentagon policy that provides leave and travel expenses for military personnel who must travel out of state to obtain an abortion or other reproductive care. He eventually relented in early December.
Kacher, who graduated from the academy in 1990, served as the 64th superintendent for just five months. For his efforts, he was given…
